The British court is expected to make a final decision on Monday regarding whether Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, should be extradited to the United States. This decision comes after 13 years of legal battles and detentions. The High Court in London will determine if the US assurances that Assange would not face the death penalty and could rely on the First Amendment right to free speech are acceptable. Assange’s legal team is prepared for various outcomes, including his potential extradition or release from jail, should the decision be made in favor of extradition.
Wikileaks gained worldwide attention after releasing classified US military documents on Washington’s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These leaks included a video showing a 2007 US helicopter attack in Baghdad that resulted in the deaths of a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff. The US authorities have charged Assange with 18 counts, most of which fall under the Espionage Act. They argue that Assange’s actions with Wikileaks were reckless, damaged national security, and endangered the lives of agents. However, global supporters see the prosecution as an assault on journalism and free speech.
Assange has been detained since 2010 when he was first arrested in Britain on a Swedish warrant over sex crime allegations. These charges were later dropped, but he has faced various forms of detention ever since. From house arrest to seeking asylum in Ecuador’s embassy in London for seven years, he has been held in Belmarsh’s top security jail since 2019 while awaiting a ruling on his extradition case. His wife, Stella Assange, who married him in Belmarsh in 2022, has expressed the toll that his continued detention has taken on their lives.
If the High Court rules in favor of extradition, Assange’s legal options in Britain will be exhausted, and his lawyers will seek an emergency injunction from the European Court of Human Rights to block his deportation. Alternatively, if the judges reject the US submissions, he will have permission to appeal his case on three grounds, with a potential hearing next year. The court may also consider the substance of his appeal during Monday’s hearing, which could result in his release. Stella Assange has vowed to continue fighting for her husband’s liberty, even if he is extradited, citing the serious risk of suicide found in psychiatric evidence presented at court.
The uncertainty of Assange’s fate has left his family living in a constant state of unpredictability. Stella Assange expressed the cruel reality of living from one decision to the next for years and the difficulty of preparing for potential outcomes like his extradition. While she plans to follow him to Australia or a safe location if released, she intends to fight for his freedom no matter the circumstances. The strength of their family’s determination to see him free is unwavering, even in the face of continued legal battles and challenges.
